Redwood RV Acquires Carriage Rights at Auction

All assets of Millersburg, Ind.-based Carriage Inc. were liquidated during the one-day auction. On a snowy Indiana morning that was clouded with the past, the future emerged bright as Syracuse, Ind.-based Redwood RV, a division of Thor Industries Inc., purchased the brand names, trademarks and intellectual property of venerable RV manufacturer Carriage Inc. Tuesday (Feb. 21) during a court-ordered liquidation of Carriage assets. Carriage, a luxury fifth-wheel manufacturer established in 1969, was... Read more

SSI: Canadian Towables Sales Grow 2.9% in 2011

Year-over-year Canadian retail sales of towable RVs rose 4.8% in December while posting a 2.9% increase for the full year. According to the latest report from Statistical Surveys Inc. (SSI), a sector-by-sector breakdown indicates: • Sales in the travel trailer sector surged 21.8% in December, ending the year with a 6% gain. • Fifth-wheel sales dropped 17.3% for the month and slid 0.9% for 2011. • Folding camping trailer registrations fell 20% in December and 11.7% for the 12 months. •... Read more

SSI: Dec. Towables Up 12.6%, Gain 5.4% for 2011

Year-over-year retail towable sales surged 12.6% in December, helping boost registrations to a 5.4% gain for the full year. According to the latest report from Statistical Surveys Inc., a sector-by-sector breakdown showed: • Sales for the high-volume travel trailer sector grew 16% in December and finished the year up 8%. • Fifth-wheel registrations increased 13.5% for December and edged up 2.9% for the 12 months. • Folding camping trailer sales declined 18.9% in December and 7.9% for... Read more

Go RVing ‘Away’ Ads, Website Ready to Launch

Go RVing 'Away' print ad Go RVing’s new “AWAY” television commercials will air for the first time next week on the SPEED Channel, during the network’s lead-up to the Daytona 500, and on Great American Country (GAC). According to a press release, the Go RVing TV spots are scheduled to debut on Feb. 21 during SPEED’s NASCAR Race Hub, which airs between 6-7 p.m. Eastern. Throughout the week, spots will continue to air on a variety of racing programs, including NASCAR Sprint Cup Practice,... Read more

Utilimaster Move Aids Bristol, Shocks Wakarusa

Spartan Motor’s Inc. announcement Tuesday (Feb. 14) that it was relocating operations for its Utilimaster Corp. subsidiary proved to be a wash as far as the overall employment picture in Indiana’s Elkhart County because no jobs are ultimately being shifted out of the northern Indiana county. But for two small communities it was pivotal news, as Bristol’s fortunes rose and Wakarusa’s sunk quickly. As reported by the Goshen News, John Forbes, president of custom vehicle manufacturer... Read more

Detroit Show May Signal Positive Things to Come

Traffic was steady at the Detroit Camper & RV Show If the 46th Annual Detroit Camper & RV Show was any indication, the RV industry could be on the brink of a significant turnaround. That was certainly the buzz on Sunday (Feb. 12), the finale of the Detroit Show, held Feb. 8-12 at the Suburban Collection Showplace in the Detroit suburb of Novi. The Detroit Show was literally packed with buyers and prospects to the extent that people couldn’t get through the aisles in many cases. And, as... Read more

Spartan Motors Relocating Utilimaster Operations

Spartan Motors Inc. today (Feb. 14) announced that it will relocate Utilimaster Corp.’s manufacturing operations, headquarters and all supporting departments and functions to Bristol, Ind., from the current location in nearby Wakarusa. The move is expected to begin during the second quarter of 2012 and be completed by year end. According to a press release, the final lease agreements are pending as company officials are working closely with leaders from state, county and local government... Read more

SSI: Coach Sales Rise in December, Flat for 2011

Year-over-year motorhome sales ended 2011 on a strong note, up 12.8% for December, but were flat for the full year with a 1.9% gain. According to the latest report from Statistical Surveys Inc., Thor Industries Inc. was the overall motorhome sales leader for the 12 months with a 20% market share followed by Winnebago Industries Inc. (19%) and Forest River Inc. (12%). In the Class A category, overall sales in December rose 7.9% compared with 2010 and edged up 1.6% year-to-date. Tiffin Motorhomes... Read more

Drew Ind. Reports Higher 4Q, Year-end Earnings

Drew Industries Inc. today (Feb. 13) reported net income for the fourth quarter ended Dec. 31, 2011 of $4.1 million, or $0.18 per diluted share, compared to net income of $3.1 million, or $0.14 per diluted share in the fourth quarter of 2010. White Plains, N.Y.-based Drew is parent to recreational vehicle and manufactured housing suppliers Lippert Components Inc. and Kinro Inc. Sales in the fourth quarter increased to $160 million, a 50% increase compared to the 2010 fourth quarter, as a result... Read more

Elkhart Open House Week’s Set for Sept. 18-20

Thor's Open House display at Hall of Fame North America’s two largest RV manufacturers, Thor Industries Inc. and Forest River Inc., jointly announced today (Feb. 10) that Elkhart County’s 5th Annual RV Open House Week will be held Sept. 18-20 throughout the northern Indiana RV-building center. Both companies are planning to locate their product displays in the same locations as last year’s Open House, which drew more than 3,000 U.S. and Canadian dealer personnel to the streets, factories... Read more

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